Nepal is presenting its case for climate justice at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), which began today, November 9, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye. The Nepali delegation is highlighting the severe consequences of global warming on the Himalayan region and demanding international support for adaptation and loss and damage.
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, who departed for Türkiye on November 7, 2026, is leading the Nepali delegation and is scheduled to address the opening plenary of COP31 today. Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment Geeta Chaudhary is scheduled to depart for Türkiye on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, and will lead a technical session. Minister for Health and Food Hygiene Nisha Mehta will also speak on the health impacts of the climate crisis.
Nepal’s presentation at COP31 includes examples of recent devastating climate-induced disasters. The Bhote Koshi floods on August 26, 2026, in Rasuwa district, resulted in 1,457 confirmed deaths and left 5,285 people missing. The estimated damages from this disaster alone are USD 2.7 billion, with reconstruction costs projected at USD 4.7 billion, approximately 10 percent of Nepal’s gross domestic product. Additionally, the country will present the impacts of a mudslide in the Budhigandaki River in Gorkha district on October 11, 2026, as well as past glacial lake outburst floods in Lende Khola and mudslides in Thame, Khumbu Pasanglahmu Rural Municipality, Solukhumbu district.
Minister Chaudhary stated that Nepal’s key priorities at COP31 include climate justice, mountain issues, loss and damage, and climate finance. She emphasized that Nepal, despite its minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, faces disproportionate effects of climate change. Nepal is advocating for ambitious steps to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Nepal and Bhutan have jointly proposed a dedicated agenda item for COP31 titled “1.5°C Warming in Mountains.” The Nepali delegation, including Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra and Head of the Climate Change Management Division Dr. Maheswor Dhakal, will participate in various side events and technical sessions to advocate for Nepal’s interests. Dr. Dharma Raj Upreti, Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), will present specific examples of climate-induced disasters.
Nepal has also established its own national pavilion at COP31, planning to host over 40 side events to share information on Nepal’s climate situation, local community experiences, and amplify the voices of youth, women, civil society, and the private sector. On November 12, 2026, Nepal will co-host a high-level event with Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bhutan, and Pakistan, titled “Advancing the Mountain Agenda: Glaciers, Cryosphere and Resilience Under Overshoot, Shared Responsibility and Sustainable Financing.” Another side event, “Strengthening Mountain Resilience Through Adaptation Finance,” will be co-hosted with Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
Background
- The August 26, 2026, Bhote Koshi floods caused an estimated USD 2.7 billion in damages, with reconstruction costs estimated at USD 4.7 billion, roughly 10 percent of Nepal's GDP.
- Nepal and Bhutan jointly submitted a proposal to include a dedicated agenda item titled "1.5°C Warming in Mountains" at COP31.
What happens next
Nepal is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea on carbon trading during COP31.
